Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-28
"A STRANGE STORY.



Six Years Aftsr.
AVN Vert (Ohio) special to the
Cincinnati Commercial says; The FOL
lowing may sound rather romantic, but
its truth can be vouched for by hun
dreds OF reputable citizens OF this place.
II is certainly . strange tale, yet events
equally as strange have transpired. In
univ. 1852, Hugh Thompson, son OF
Robert Thompson, now an old and re-
spected citizen Of this city, enlisted for
service in the Fifteenth 0. V. v. l.,
and soon afterward went to the front
He was then in his nineteenth year,
young stripping, the very picture OF
health.
During the second days fight at
Chickamauga, September 20, 1868, he
was wounded in the head by a bullet,
taken TO hospital, and there all trace
of him was lost. No tidings came from
him to his agonized father, and as he
was marked on the roll OF the company
as "wounded and missing IN action"
he was, after a long period of waiting
and watching. given up for dead.
A few months since his father, who
is nearly blind, determined to apply
for pension, and as it became neces-
sary to ascertain as nearly as possible
what became of his son Hugh, or, il
dead, TO find some comrade who had,
perhaps seen him die, before the pen
sion claim could be allowed, it was de-
termined to seek once more for some
trace of the lost soldier, and this time
the Grand Army of the Republic be-
came interested in the case, took charge
OF the matter, and instituted an in
quiry.- At the last meeting or encamp-
ment at Springfield, Ohio, held
few months since, clew
was obtained, and being fol-
lowed up. developed the fact that
man was living at Parlette, Kan, who
claimed that his name was Thompson,
but that he did not know where he
came from or where his relatives lived.
After some correspondence it was de-
termined to bring the man, who claimed
to be the lost Thompson, to this city
that he might be identified. Accord
ingly purse of money was hised,
sent to the Kansas claimant, and We'd
nesday night last he arrived here. He
has been fully and clearly identified as
the Hugh Thompson who enlisted here
in 1862, both by his aged father, who
was overjoyed to see him alive, and by
his old playmates, who readily recog-
nized the boy of twenty-five years ago.
His story is most wonderful one,
and seems scarcely real, yet it must be
recognized as such, in the face OF cir
cumstances which favor its truth. After
he was wounded at Chickamauga his
mind was blank, and he remembered
nothing until his reason returned to
him at the Chicago fire in 1872. He
was then wandering in that city, with a
small valise in his hand. He did not
even know his name, but had Afaint
idea that it was Hugh Thompson, and
that he belonged to the Fifteenth Ohio.
4 few trinkets, photographs, aud q
small testament which was given him
by bis cousin in this city, now Mrs. w.
l.. Rank, when he enlisted, formed
the contents of his grip, but
no address or name was about
his person. Not knowing that the war
WAS over, he requested to be returned
to his regiment, but was then told that
the rebellion was thing of the past,
and had been for some years. ie gave
S25 to some rascal whom he 4ired to
search the military records for Hugh
Thompson, but the fellow told him that
no man by that name belonged to the
Fifteenth Ohio. He then wandered
for several years over the States OF Illi-
nois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kan
sas, and Nebraska, working at any
thing that came in his way. He finally
married and became the father OF seven
children-three boys, who are now
dead, and four girls, who are all living.
He squatted on small farm in Meade
county, Kansas, and gave all up all
hopes of ever ascertaining where he
came from.
After 1t became known by his friends
here that man named Hugh Thomp-
son lived at Parlette, Kansas, CORE
spondence was opened with him. He
finally sent the photographs which
were in his possession when he regain
ed his reason. to the parties here, who
readily identified them, and the Tesla
ment which Mrs. Rank had given him
was recognized by her. Thompson is
row forty-four years of age, bearing
marks of much trouble. Where he was
from 1863 to 1872 he knows not. Some
times he thinks that possibly he may
have been incarcersted IN some asylum,
but as he can remember nothing this is
only food for conjecture.
4 great deal OF interest is manifested
in his strange case here, and when
walking upon the streets he is recog-
nized by some OF his boyhood friends,
who rush up to grasp his hand, the fact
that the long lost Hugh Thompson is
reilly found cannot be doubted. A
pension will be secured by him if pos
sible, and as soon as the necessary
papers are filed, and everybody satisfied
as to bis identity, he will return to his
wife and family in Kansas.